Cookie Policy

Journey Latin America asks you to accept cookies for performance and social media purposes. We use cookies on our website to personalise content, evaluate website traffic and enhance performance. You can delete or restrict cookies via your web browser. To get more information about these cookies and the processing of your personal data see our Cookie Policy. Do you accept these cookies and the processing of personal data involved?
Find out more

This luxurious taste of Brazil starts Rio, a city of fun-loving people, music on every street corner and football on every beach - all with a glorious mountain backdrop. We've selected some of Brazil's finest hotels, with near perfect locations. Belmond Copacabana Palace (formerly known as Orient Express), faces the blue green rollers of the Atlantic Ocean breaking onto the golden sands of Copacabana, the heart of this beach-loving city.

At Iguazú Falls, you will step out of your room at Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas to the thunderous roar of water crashing over lofty granite cliffs fringed by tropical rainforest. It's the only property right o n the edge of the falls themselves: you can avoid the crowds in the early morning and evening.. Finally at the upmarket, popular beach retreat of Búzios, unwind at a top quality boutique property overlooking the ocean.

Holiday itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro. Transfer to hotel, the famous Copacabana Palace.

Visit Us

What our experts say

Having inspected and researched the best hotels around, we’ve selected only the most exclusive properties for this holiday. Prime locations and luxury service are the order of the day; you’ll stay a stone’s throw from Copacabana beach, you’ll hear the thundering of the Iguazú Falls from your room and have the privilege of wandering down to the cataracts out of hours at sunrise or sunset, and you’ll relax at your boutique hotel overlooking the ocean in chic Búzios.

Places visited on this holiday

Luxury Brazil: Rio, Iguazu Falls and Buzios

Rio de Janeiro

Of the world’s great iconic cities, Rio is the most captivating. Romantic and laid back but oozing energy and optimism, it needs a few days to explore and time to sit back and share the outdoor life of its welcoming inhabitants.

With streets, beaches and parks spruced up for the World Cup and Olympic Games, now is the best time to go. The busy colonial centre is transformed, with literary cafés spilling out on to car-free lanes, the National Theatre all a-glitter, and boutique hotels nestle in arty Santa Teresa.

The lagoon behind Ipanema beach is circled by a pretty path and cycle route and the Botanical Gardens have undergone a luscious makeover. Vibrant street art, beach football, spontaneous musical events and cool bars all add to a joyous experience for visitors.

What's the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?

Rio is an all-year destination, at its hottest Jan-Mar (humid with tropical showers, occasionally over 40°C during the day). It can be cool and drizzly Jul-Aug but the sun is never far away. Late Dec-Feb (and to a lesser extent Jul) are local holiday times and can be very busy.

How do I get local currency in Rio de Janeiro?

Brazilian Real.

Notes can be withdrawn from the ATMs at the airport and in town. Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and HSBC accept UK credit or debit cards. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm. Currency also obtainable in banks and money exchanges.

What's the time difference between Rio de Janeiro and UK?

GMT -3 hours. There is daylight saving from Oct- end Feb (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour.

What's the flight time between Rio de Janeiro and UK?

Average flight time to Rio is 11 hours. Two airlines offer direct flights. There are flights with European connections to many other major cities.

What are the festivals, cultural and sport events in Rio de Janeiro?

Reveillon:New Year’s Eve, 2 million white-clad Cariocas descend on Copacabana beach to celebrate the Festa de Iemanjá, launching candlelit boats on the Ocean. Fireworks and music accompany the fun.

Carnival:5 days in Feb/Mar, variable. Apart from the world famous parades in the purpose-built sambadrome there are street processions, live bands, costume balls, over-indulgence and general frivolity.

Football World Cup:12 Jun-13 Jul 2014. Cities all over Brazil are hosting games but the Maracanã in Rio has been refurbished for the occasion and will leave the legacy of a spruced up stadium where visitors can enjoy regular games, usually on Sunday afternoons.

Olympic Games:5 - 21 Aug 2016. Rio is being given a face-lift for the event, if you visit before the games you’ll benefit from greater security, repaved promenades, streamlined transport links (they hope!), brand new restaurants and open air cafés and even Wifi on Copacabana beach.

Back to list of places visited

Iguazu Falls

Straddling the border between southern Brazil and northeast Argentina, The Iguazú Falls (spelt Iguaçú in Brazil) are usually rated number one of the big three waterfalls, the others being Niagara and Victoria. They are often considered to be Latin America’s most awe-inspiring natural sight and a must-see for anyone visiting the highlights of the continent.

The 275 separate cascades form a curtain of foaming water which crashes through tangled sub-tropical jungle over a vast granite amphitheatre, protected by national park status. Both countries offer scenic walkways with breath-taking scenery around every corner and easily observed wildlife. From theBrazilian side you’ll get a panoramic view of the 3km cliff edge, on the Argentine side there is a series of walkways leading you above, below and even behind the water.

When's the best time to go to Iguazu Falls?

Iguazú Falls is a year-round destination, but water levels and weather conditions vary with the rainy (Dec-Feb) and dry (Jun-Jul) seasons. The water supply to the falls also varies according to the local control of the dams upstream. It can be busy with tourists in local holiday seasons, for example in Feb and at Easter.

What's the official currency at Iguazu Falls?

Brazil: notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in Foz do Iguazú Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and HSBC accept UK credit or debit cards. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm.

Argentina: there are a couple of ATMs in Puerto Iguazú where the banks are only open in the mornings.

What's the time difference between GMT and Iguazu falls?

GMT -3 hours. There is daylight saving from October to the end of February (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour.

What countries combine well with Iguazu Falls?

Argentina: Buenos Aires - there are direct daily 2 hour flights from Puerto Iguazú; Salta in the northwest Andes: daily flights take 1 hour 50mins.
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro - There are daily flights from Foz do Iguaçú; Southern Brazil: there are flights from Foz do Iguaçu to Curitiba with connections; The Pantanal or the Amazon: there are daily flights to Campo Grande or Manaus with connections in São Paulo.
Peru: there are daily flights from Foz do Iguaçú to Lima, 4.5 hours.

Back to list of places visited

Buzios

Búzios is an upmarket beach resort of three settlements on a delightful, rocky peninsula of white-sand crescent coves three hours’ drive east from Rio. Revealed to the world by Brigitte Bardot, it does indeed resemble somewhat a chic Mediterranean seaside town, with swish villas, Portuguese style cobbled streets, trendy boutiques and colonial pousadas. Offshore are a number of little islands blanketed with lush foliage. Nowadays popular with the Brazilian jet set and foreign visitors alike, it offers a full beach holiday experience, with water sports, elegant cuisine and a busy nightlife.

When's the best time to visit Buzios?

Búzios is at its hottest Jan-Mar (humid with tropical showers, occasionally over 40°C during the day). It can be cool and drizzly Jun-Aug and some facilities will be closed but the sun is never far away. Late Dec-Feb and Jul are local holiday times and the resort will be very busy.

What's the official language of Buzios?

Brazilian Portuguese, a more languid and musical version of Portugal’s mother tongue.

How do I get local currency in Buzios?

Brazilian Real. Notes can be withdrawn from several ATMs downtown, such as that of Bradesco, using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm.

What's the time difference between Buzios and UK?

GMT -3 hours. There is daylight saving from Oct to the end of Feb (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour.

How do I get to Buzios?

It’s a 3 hour drive east of Rio, and you get to cross the superb 12 km Niteroi Bridge.

What are the festivals, cultural and sport events in Buzios?

Carnival: 5 days in Feb/Mar, variable: 28 Feb – 4 Mar 2014
Rio das Ostras Jazz and Blues Festival: Top class music on a tropical beach north of Búzios, early Jun annually.

Things to do on this holiday

See the views from Sugar Loaf mountain

Visit Rio's statue of Christ the Redeemer

Of course the best known and most popular way of ascending the twin peaks of the Sugar Loaf is to take the two-station cable-car from the arty little district of Urca which clings to the mountain's skirts. You can reach the sea-level station by taxi, public bus or with us on a guided tour by minibus or open-top jeep, taking in other city highlights en route.

You can choose to climb a shady path through woods from sea level to the top of the first mountain and continue by cable car; or do that in reverse.

Alternatively climb the whole way on foot aided by an English-speaking guide and all necessary equipment. The ascent is challenging but doesn’t require technical expertise or climbing experience, so if you’re relatively fit and healthy there’s nothing to stop you.

A rocky path leads most of the way up, but you’ll need to climb 25m of sheer rock face using ropes and a harness. You’ll feel you’ve truly earned the staggering views to be enjoyed from the top.

However you decide to ascend, we recommend the free nature walk through shady woodland around the base of the mountain: it is a guarded,well-prepared path and you will see a plethora of butterflies, tropical birds and maybe even small mammals scuttling through the undergrowth.

Looming over Rio like a watchful guardian, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the most recognisable and evocative icons of Latin America. But it’s really the views that steal the scene: from the statue’s vantage point atop Corcovado mountain, a heavenly panorama stretches out in all directions, revealing the voluptuous contours of the bay’s monolithic granite peaks.

You can ascend the jungle-clad mountain on the impossibly steep cog railway or beat the queues by ascending most of the way in a minibus, taxi or open-top jeep. The journey to the top is spectacular from start to finish as you view up close the succulent tropical fruits and flowers which line the railway track and the sinuous road.

Accommodation on this holiday

Belmond Copacabana Palace

Casas Brancas Boutique Hotel and Spa

Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas

Belmond Copacabana Palace, one of the oldest buildings on Copacabana’s beachfront strip, is Rio’s most iconic hotel, oozing refinement and luxury. It is now owned and operated by the prestigious Belmond group (formerly Orient Express).

A fine neo-classical façade sets the tone for this sumptuous property, elegant and stylish throughout. Assuredly first class in its facilities and attitude to its guests, the hotel offers old-fashioned, attentive service.

Each of the rooms and suites is unique, varying in size and view – we recommend splashing out on a pool or sea view room and if you are staying for three nights or more, (please ask us about complimentary upgrades).

The swimming pool is the finest of any hotel in the city, and its terrace – the setting for Brazil's most sumptuous breakfast – is a delightful place to catch your breath between sightseeing, shopping, dining and people-watching.

We love Casas Brancas, an enchanting boutique hotel set on a bluff with dazzling vistas of the ocean. Its idyllic surroundings invite you to explore a multitude of small sandy coves and tropical islands or simply stroll to the centre of Búzios with its trendy shops and great eateries.

There's a blissed-out Balearic vibe to this property of sparkling white walls drenched in tropical sunshine. It’s a wonderful place to kick back and relax, whether by the pool, on your balcony or on the outdoor terrace shaded by billowing drapes. Sip a cocktail and watch the sunset before romantic candlelight transforms the atmosphere after dark. Alternatively, spoil yourself with a massage or facial in the sumptuous spa.

Calming, cool whites and creams predominate in the spacious, individually decorated guestrooms, which have stone-flagged floors and either a sea or garden view. There is a pool, a fine restaurant and a sun terrace with breath-taking bay views that lend a real sense of proximity to the ocean waves. Service is exceptional.

You can take a catamaran trip into the bay to explore some of the small tropical islands and secluded coves that dot the coastline. Or if you'd rather succumb to the air of total relaxation, there are plenty of opportunities to swim, laze on a lounger or work on your tan.

The Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas is the only accommodation inside Brazil's Foz do Iguaçu National Park and has one of the most spectacular settings anywhere in South America, directly in front of the Iguazú Falls. Uniquely, it offers the opportunity to explore the Brazilian park when it is closed to the public, giving practically private access to this monumental natural wonder throughout the evening, night and early morning.

There is a panoramic view of the falls – which comprises of 275 separate cataracts plunging over a 3km granite precipice – a few steps from the front door of the hotel. Some of the guestrooms (bright, with a stylish mix of tropical and Portuguese influences) also have partial waterfall views.

The hotel was built 50 years ago, but with its baby-pink exterior and mock-colonial design it has the elegance of a refined bygone era. Today it is owned and operated by the illustrious Belmond group (formerly) Orient Express) and has been extensively renovated to the highest standards.

The garden is dotted with palms and is a supremely relaxing place to unwind after a day exploring the walkways around the falls. There are two restaurants: one a casual buffet-style affair beside the sunny outdoor pool and the other offering à la carte dining in front of the falls.

Speak to an expert Travel Consultant or send us your enquiry today.

Tailor-made holiday

Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for over 37 years.
We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.

97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.

Luxury Brazil: Rio, Iguazu Falls and Buzios

11 days from £3,970pp

Private Journey

Want to keep up-to-date with the latest insider tips, offers and holiday advice for travel to Latin America? Sign up or if you’re already subscribed, update your preferences here
. You can unsubscribe at any time and we do not pass on your details to any third party. Read our full privacy policy here.

Let us Tailor your perfect holiday

Dates don’t work? Fancy a detour to Easter Island? Speak to us!

Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for over 37 years.

We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.